Disposable traction harness

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a disposable traction harness including a foot support for supporting a person&#39;&#39;s foot and toes in an upright position when the person is lying down with his leg extended and in traction.

nited States Patent 1 1 39729999 Thompson [4 1 Apr. 24, 1973 1 DISPOSABLE TRACTION HARNESS 1,399.606 12/1921 Ferragamo ..l28/85 [76] Inventor: Stanley E. Thompson, 1108 Morton $531223 Z132;

Street, Richmond, Tex. 77469 3,536,072 10/1970 Quello ..12s 87 x 221 Filed: Nov.23, 1970 App]. N01: 91,815

UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson l 28/84 R Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DISPOSABLE TRACTION'IHIARNESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to an orthopedic traction device for applying traction to a persons leg and particularly to a disposable harness for supporting a persons foot in a substantially vertically upright position when the person is lying on his back with his leg ex l tended as in traction.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art traction devices for connecting weights to a persons leg for holding it in tension have included a strip of material having foam rubber padding that is looped around the instep or heel'and extends up the inner and outer sides of theankle and leg with the leg then wrapped with an ace bandage or other suitable stretch wrapping to secure the foam rubber strip to the leg. The weight is then attached to the strip which passes beneath the instep of the foot. These bandages are objectionable because they are sometimes wrapped so tightly as to pinch the skin, and when not so tightly wrapped, often become loosened and slip off and thus require frequent rewrapping. This type of bandage is also objectionable because it does not support the toes or extreme end of the ball of the foot in an upright position and thus permits the foot to droop. As it is sometimes necessary to keep the leg in traction for several weeks, the muscles of the foot thus lose their tone. and become weakened while the leg is immobilized in traction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the apparatus of the present invention provides a new and improved traction harness for securing weights to a persons leg to hold the leg in traction including a foot support for supporting the patients foot in an upright position when the patient is on his back with one leg extended.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide stirrup out of engagement with the ankle portion of the person's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the traction harness device of the present invention connected to a persons leg and holding it in traction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section showing 0 details of construction of the traction harness of the DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The disposable traction harness of this invention, designated generally H in FIG. 1 of the drawings, provides a convenient and sure connecting means for connecting weights to a persons leg and ankle for holding the leg in traction. Such harness H includes a wraparound sheet C for encircling the calf portion of the persons leg L and a stirrup S which passes beneath the instep or heel of the persons foot F and a sole plate P that spreads the stirrup S and holds it away from the a new and improved orthopedic foot support which includes a foot sole plate for engaging the sole of a persons foot wherein such sole plate is carried in a stirrup piece which passes beneath the heel or instep and which is secured to a wrap-around sleeve adapted to encircle the calf and ankle of the persons leg. A bracket is provided for securing a weight to the stirrup piece to hold the leg in traction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved'traction harness for supporting a patients foot in an upright position when the leg is in traction including a stirrup with an inner and outer pocket, the inner pocket for receiving a substantially rigid sole support member adapted to engage the sole of a person's foot and an outer pocket for receiving a weight attaching bracket for attaching weights to the stirrup portion of the harness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and-improved traction harness device for use in supporting a foot when a leg is'in traction comprising a substantially flat, rigid sole support having heel; toe and ball engaging surfaces carried in a stirrup which extends beneath the instep of the foot and a securing bracket means for connecting a weight to the foot wherein such bracket means supports the sides of the stirrup in laterally spaced positions so as to hold the sides of the ankle and also provides a means for connecting a line to weights W for holding the leg L in traction.

Considering now the apparatus of the present invention in more detail, the wrap-around sheet C is preferably formed of a flexible sheet of stretchable material which easily conforms to the contour of the leg L to prevent slipping and which is preferably coated with a tacky or adhesive coating such ELASTOPLASTby Duke Laboratories on the inner surface for adhering to the leg.

The stirrup S comprises a strap of cloth material,

which is substantially non-stretchable and which has its opposite ends 14 and 15, respectively, affixed by stitches 16 or other suitable securing means to the wrap-around sheet C at laterally spaced positions so as to form a U-shaped stirrup or sling for extending beneath the foot F when the sheet C is wrapped around the leg L as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

As shown, the strap is provided with two cross pieces 20 and 21 which form two pockets, the outer or lower pocket 23 for receiving the bracket B and the inner pocket 24 for receiving the sole plate P. The cross pieces 20 and 21 are preferably formed of strap material such as that forming the stirrup S and are stitched or otherwise suitably joined to the U-shaped stirrup member S.

The sole plate P preferably comprises a substantially rigid sheet of plastic or other suitable light weight material which is shaped'to the contour of the sole of a persons foot having a heel portion 30, an instep portion 31 and an upper portion 32 for engaging the heel 33 and supporting the ball of the foot 34 and the toes 35. It will be appreciated that the sole plate P will be of any size that is suitable for the persons foot F.

Such plate P is provided with a pin which extends through the plate at the instep or other portion adjacent the strap or stirrup S. The pin 40 has a pointed end 41 that projects beyond the plate and which penetrates the stirrup S to hold the plate P in position and prevent its moving about in the stirrup.

The bracket B comprises a wire loop having a cross piece 50 which is of a suitable length to spread the sides of the stirrup S so as to hold them out of engagement with the person's ankle A. The cross piece 50 is bent at right angles at its opposite ends to form side pieces 51 and 52 which are disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the sole plate P when inserted into the lower pocket 23. The lower ends of the side pieces 51 and 52 are bent at approximately a angle to form a V- shaped side 54 disposed opposite the side of the loop from the cross piece for receiving a line 60 that connects to a weight W. The apex 55 of the V-shaped side 54 is positioned approximately midway between the opposite sides 51 and 52 for centering the point of connection of the line relative to the foot F to apply the traction force substantially axially of the leg L. Also, it will be appreciated that bending the V-shaped portion 54 back toward the cross piece 50 will tend to center the apex 55 near the central portion of the foot F and in line with the longitudinal center line 61 of the stirrup S. Also, it will be appreciated that the bracket B may be inserted into the pocket 23 either with the cross piece 50 in the upper position as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, or with the bracket B turned in the opposite direction with the cross piece 50 inserted in the pocket 23 toward the heel 33 of the foot-F as shown in FIG. 1'

of the drawings.

In using the disposable harness H of the present invention, the wrap-around sheet portion C is wrappedaround the calf of the leg L with the opposite edges overlapping one another as shown in FIG. 3 of the} and with the free ends overlapping so that the adhesive portion on the outer flap adheres to the outer portion of the inner flap as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. With the wrapper C thus securely affixed to the leg L, the weight line 60 may be attached to the V-shaped portion 54 of the bracket B to suspend a weight W on a pulley for holding the leg L in traction.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable traction harness for connecting weights to a persons leg to hold the leg in traction comprising:

a. a flexible sheet having an adhesive coating on one side for adhering to the skin of a person's leg;

b. a U-shaped stirrup formed of substantially nonstretchable, flexible material having its opposite ends affixed to saidpliable sheet at laterally spaced points so as to post ion the sides of the stirrup on the opposite sides of a persons leg and ankle;

c. bracket means connected to said stirrup for securing weights thereto to hold the leg in traction; and (i. said bracket means including:

1. a wire loop having a cross piece;

2. a pair of side legs extending outwardly from the cross piece and disposed in a common plane therewith and a V-shaped side connecting the free ends of said side members, said V-shaped side being inclined at an angle of less than relative to the plane of the side members and the cross piece.

2. A disposable traction harness for connecting weights to a persons leg to hold the leg in traction comprising:

a. a flexible sheet having an adhesive coating on one side for adhering to the skin ofa persons leg;

b. a U-shaped stirrup formed of substantially nonstretchable, flexible material having its opposite ends afflxed to said pliable sheet at laterally spaced points so as to position the sides of the stirrup on the opposite sides of a persons leg and ankle;

c. a sole plate carried by said stirrup for engaging the sole of the foot of the persons leg and supporting the toes and ball portion of the foot in an extended position;

d. bracket means connected to said stirrup for securing weights thereto to hold the leg in traction; and

e. second cross piece connecting opposite sides of said U-shaped stirrup and forming with said first cross piece the inner pocket for receiving said sole plate and forming with the bottom of said stirrup an outer pocket for receiving said bracket. 

1. A disposable traction harness for connecting weights to a person''s leg to hold the leg in traction comprising: a. a flexible sheet having an adhesive coating on one side for adhering to the skin of a person''s leg; b. a U-shaped stirrup formed of substantially non-stretchable, flexible material having its opposite ends affixed to said pliable sheet at laterally spaced points so as to position the sides of the stirrup on the opposite sides of a person''s leg and ankle; c. bracket means connected to said stirrup for securing weights thereto to hold the leg in traction; and d. said bracket means including:
 1. a wire loop having a cross piece;
 2. a pair of side legs extending outwardly from the cross piece and disposed in a common plane therewith and a V-shaped side connecting the free ends of said side members, said V-shaped side being inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to the plane of the side members and the cross piece.
 2. a pair of side legs extending outwardly from the cross piece and disposed in a common plane therewith and a V-shaped side connecting the free ends of said side members, said V-shaped side being inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to the plane of the side members and the cross piece.
 2. A disposable traction harness for connecting weights to a person''s leg to hold the leg in traction comprising: a. a flexible sheet having an adhesive coating on one side for adhering to the skin of a person''s leg; b. a U-shaped stirrup formed of substantially non-stretchable, flexible material having its opposite ends affixed to said pliable sheet at laterally spaced points so as to position the sides of the stirrup on the opposite sides of a person''s leg and ankle; c. a sole plate carried by said stirrup for engaging the sole of the foot of the person''s leg and supporting the toes and ball portion of the foot in an extended position; d. bracket means connected to said stirrup for securing weights thereto to hold the leg in traction; and e. second cross piece connecting opposite sides of said U-shaped stirrup and forming with said first cross piece the inner pocket for receivIng said sole plate and forming with the bottom of said stirrup an outer pocket for receiving said bracket. 